Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland: 'Nobody is giving up'

August 26, 2012|By Omar Kelly, SunSentinel.com

While trading Vontae Davis to Indianapolis Colts could make it seem like the Dolphins are holding a fire sale, General Manager Jeff Irelanddisputes the perception that the team’s dumping assets to rebuild.

“Our goal is to win today and tomorrow. Nobody is giving up,” Ireland told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Just because we have some draft picks [for a player] doesn’t mean I can’t use them now.”

Ireland’s referring to the 2013 second-round pick and the 2013 conditional sixth-round pick the Dolphins will receive from the Colts for Davis, a 2009 first-round pick, once he passes his physical.

Ireland called the newly acquired draft picks “ammunition” and openly admitted he’s not done bartering for players that can help the 2012 team.

Put those two picks with Miami’s own selections, and the third-rounder the Dolphins got from trading Brandon Marshall to Chicago last spring, and the team has quite a few assets, which could be used to land a playmaker or offensive linemen, which happens to be the two areas of need.

Ireland admitted the Dolphins front office is currently exploring players that are available for trades. He’s made a trade at this time of year every season except 2011. He also talked about the Dolphins’ history of consistently churning the bottom of the roster, and acknowledged that he’ll continue to do that this season looking for young talent that could blossom into solid contributors.

“Every decision is made with only the best intentions of the organization. At the end of the day we feel like we’re able to make a fair deal for us and the Colts,” Ireland said about the Davis trade. “Richard Marshall and Nolan Carroll were playing well and we felt like cornerback was a position of strength for us.”

According to Ireland, Colts executives called him aggressively pursuing Davis to supplement Indianapolis’ thin secondary. Ireland and coach Joe Philbin discussed the details of the decision, and agreed to an asking price. After a few days a compromise was made between the two AFC teams, which play each other on Nov. 4, and the trade was executed.

According to Ireland, it is unprecedented to get such a high draft pick at this time of year for a veteran player, especially one that had been demoted.

Davis’ departure provides other players an opportunity to step up, elevating their role and level of contribution, he said.

The Dolphins are presently retooling the roster, finding players that fit Philbin’s system, beliefs and approach, and Ireland admitted “these things take time.” However, he objects to the perception that trading away a former starter means the front office is waving the white flag.

“My job is to try to establish a strong foundation of success and to continue to build on that foundation," Ireland said.